Teaching applied computing without programming: a case-based introductory course for general education

Authors:
Joe Marks;William Freeman;Henry Leitner
Affiliations:
MERL, Mitsubishi Electric Research Labs, Cambridge, MA;MERL, Mitsubishi Electric Research Labs, Cambridge, MA;Harvard University, Extension School, Cambridge, MA
Venue:
Proceedings of the thirty-second SIGCSE technical symposium on Computer Science Education
Year:
2001

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Abstract

We introduce general-education students to key ideas in applied computing through case studies from computer graphics, computer animation, image processing, computer vision, information retrieval, and artificial intelligence. Each case study consists of two lectures: one an intuitive exposition of relevant computer-science concepts, and the other a hands-on introduction to a working system that embodies these concepts. Students use these systems to perform design and problem-solving tasks, thereby reinforcing the abstract concepts presented. Computer programming is neither required nor taught. The course has been offered for two years at the Harvard University Extension School, and has achieved high ratings in student surveys.